UK citizens to be able to travel to China visa-free, Starmer announces in Beijing – live updates

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30 comments

  1. Great step. Brilliant from everyone from professionals to students and just holiday goers who want to travel.

    The world needs to open up and move on from the scare polticis of the crumbling American empire.

  2. That is exceptionally good news.

    Visa free travel (for limited periods) has been available for a few EUR nations for the last 2 years. Like it or not, China is a massive trade opportunity for the UK, and being able to go there easily removes a roadblock.

  3. Note that the EU has had this for years. The UK was on the ‘naughty list’ due to poor international relations and trade disputes post-brexit etc.

    There was always the 10 day transit visa loophole – they allow you to enter china and leave again within 10 days as long as you follow a set of rules about entry airport, regions, etc.

  4. Great, all those protesters can go over to voice their anger about climate change and the Uyghurs. Sure their government will be cool with it.

  5. A huge country with a rich culture, history, and evolving rapidly. This is a very good step

  6. Great news, I’d certainly rather visit China than the USA at this point.

  8. This is already policy across most of Europe. Glad we’re on board!

  9. I assume all of this is a response to USA cosying up to Russia? Our increased alliance with China could be a good short term power thing, but I worry about the long term.

  10. Awesome, I can now just up and go to China to watch their armada set off to invade Taiwan when it’s time – minimum paperwork fuss.

  11. Waiting for conservatives (Russian bots) to tell me why this the worst thing ever and why Starmer is a DiSgRaCe

  12. Overall strong news and a good method of avoiding friction

  13. Would love to visit China one day and then on to Japan. Just never seem to have the time! 

  14. People saying Trump is good for Russia but he’s done wonders for China international trade.

  15. Pretty happy with this. Hopefully it also won’t need every single detail of your itinerary like before.

    Got the fairly expensive visa years ago (but never made it there as my friend didn’t get theirs in time). And while I’m not necessarily in a rush to visit China, there are quite a lot of cool places there so this at least makes it an easier option. And the Chinese Airlines are super cheap.

  16. Trump’s been such a gift to China. Really happy with this

  17. If this means I don’t have to pay them £180 anymore and give them a full breakdown of my itinerary and where I’m staying, happy days

  18. This is pretty sound Tbf I’ve fancied going to China for a while.

  19. How do we square this away with China’s “no limit friendship” with Russia?

  20. That is excellent, so glad we caught up with the rest of Europe

  21. Visa free travel to the EU would be amazing, imagine what that would be like! Oh wait

  22. Literally planning a trip to China for this year so that’s a massive help!

  23. For all the tea in China, this is fantastic news.

    Keir, is just a different kind of animal on the International stage; anyone decrying this is just jealous of Labours achievements.

  24. This is amazing news! China has become the new Japan imo, I just can’t believe what a huge and interesting place it is. The pandemic really helped me see how many mega cities they have that I’d never heard of and they are all gorgeous and super interesting.

    I absolutely cannot wait for this.

  25. Finally
    I go to Hong Kong with my Chinese wife every year. I never bother go to China due to all the hassle but at last we will have options to go over the border to visit cities in the greater bay. Shenzhen and Guangzhou etc

  26. Can the Chinese start building UK infrastructure. The stagnation in the country is shocking.

  27. I actually love this. I’ve worked in China before and the Visa process was convoluted and exorbitant; I’d love to go back as a tourist.

  28. Oh nice. I was just planning a trip to china actually. The visa stuff never bothered me though

  29. Nice… I already have a 10 year visa through work, but makes it easier to take my parents there.

    Places I’ll definitely take my parents:

    Yunnan (especially Lijiang)

    Sanya (basicailly Hawaii)

    Chongqing (just an insane place that doesn’t look real)

    Xi’an (for the heritage)

    Would like to take them to Jiuzhaigou because it looks magical, but I think it’s pretty hard to get there – I had a Chinese colleague with me so could take the easy way everywhere/drive a lot

  30. Ignoring the politics, I’m happy a lot more people will get to see how great China is to travel. Never been easier either with translation apps etc. So many beautiful places and cool cities to visit. Also, Chinese people are a lot more welcoming and friendly than perhaps a lot of people in the UK imagine.

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